wrote:
John, I would agree these guys are fun to watch, but their
experimental designs are often sophomoric. If they worked in my lab
they'd get retrained, or fired.

They are special effects guys, aren't they? They are good at that, and
great at entertainment, but the 'science' I'd seen on some of their
shows made my hair hurt.

But hell, if I could have as much fun as they seem to, I wouldn't care
that the science part was weak.


Despite the stated format of the show, the boys are in the entertainment
business primarily. This means that what they do and how they do it is
severely restricted science wise due to multiple reasons, most of it
directly related to shortcuts required on a strict time line and the all
important "entertainment requirement".
The guys do the best they can within these restrictions and attempt to
produce a show for as wide a demographic audience as possible. They live
or die by the ratings book as do all such programs.
As someone interested in science, try sitting down at a table with an 85
year old grandmother, a six year old, and a high school dropout and
explain lift to them.........oh yes.....and do it so that they
completely understand every aspect of it on the science and engineering
level.....and do that in 30 minutes. :-))


--
Dudley Henriques